Blessing and Responsibility of a Shepherd
Matthew 25:14-30
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants[c] and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents,[d] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.[e] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
What is the best thing that has happened in your life?
Pastor Daniel became a Christian at 16, and has been a Christ follower for 35 years. He also had a good job after college with which he could support his family. He has also spent many years serving as a missionary. But when he thinks about his life, the best decision that he has made was to become a parent. It was the best blessing that he has gotten from God so far.
Becoming a parent is similar to becoming a shepherd in that both of them have spiritual children and family members that they need to take care of. PD gave three reasons to explain how this is a blessing.
1. Becoming a parent and shepherd is by God’s grace
This is not something you earn or achieve. It is also not something given to you because you qualify for the role. Those that are parents and shepherds are no better than anyone else, and it is only by God’s grace that you are given this responsibility.
2. Becoming a parent and shepherd is a blessing from God
Some things are difficult to understand until you experience them, and this is the way it is with being a shepherd and parent. When PD became a parent, he understood what it meant to be a father. He also started to understand what it meant that God is his Father. So if we become a parent and shepherd, we resemble God in these roles, which is a big blessing. It is difficult, but it is worth it to have this responsibility.
3. Becoming a parent and shepherd is to have responsibility
What is our responsibility as a parent and shepherd? In the parable, the master came back and settled accounts with his servants. If we were to put ourselves in this story as the servants and Jesus as the master, what would you think Jesus would ask you?
Would he ask how many souls you saved? Or how many members you have in your house church?
In the parable, the master’s interest was not in how well they did or how much they profited. In the same way, it is not about how many kids we have, or how much money we make, or how well our house church is doing.
The responsibility of a shepherd and parent is more than simply to pray, to serve, and to sacrifice. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 says, without love, it is nothing.
This is why being a parent and shepherd is difficult because we are being asked to love. And love is difficult because it is a choice. Children and members can make their own choices, and sometimes they are bad choices. But regardless, God still loves us all, and in the same way we can strive to love our sheep and our children.
Reflection Questions:
What did you get out of this message?
For Shepherds: How do you love your house church members as a shepherd?
For HC Members: How and when do you experience love from your shepherd?
